• Sales fall 7.2% last month for existing home sales, still considered higher than a year ago o January: 5.05 million units sold (4.53 million units, January, 2009) o December: 5.44 million units sold • 11.2% decrease in newly built home sales • Deals that closed in January were contracts that were signed in November […]
JohnHart Real Estate
Interest Rates, Housing Market and The Economy
We have been on a crazy ride with the housing market, fluctuating interest rates and the economy. S&P/ Case-Shiller • Home price index has dropped 2.5% compared with last year’s index • End of 2008, home prices had fallen 18.2%, compared to 2007 • Increase of 0.3% in home prices in December and November • […]
Million Dollar Homes Dropping Their Prices
Not only is the average housing market dropping prices, million dollar homes are seeing dramatic…
New Guidelines: Home Buyer Tax Credits
The two home buyer tax credits have helped many first time home owners. The IRS has found that more information is needed to prevent any type of fraud in the program. In 2009 people had claimed and received $8,000 checks for transaction that never occurred.
Are Fewer People Facing Foreclosure?
According to the U.S. Treasury mortgage payments have been modified and fewer individuals would face foreclosure proceedings. Reports show that at the end of January: • At the end of January, 947,000 households had received a deduction in their mortgage payments through HAMP. • 3% of 1.7 million households are eligible for HAMP. • 116,297 […]
Top Five Most Expensive Homes of 2009
Last year the real estate market did not have the most prosperous year.
What to Look Out For When Filing Your Taxes
First-time home owners • What are points? o Fees paid to your lender when applying for a mortgage or loan. o If paid up front, can be tax deductible o Only tax deductible if the loan is for the purposes of purchasing or improving your personal property. Investment properties will not qualify.
Eddie Murphy’s Mansion
The actor has starred in movies like The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop and Shrek, to name a few. He has listed his house for sale and so far has had no luck selling the property.
Fewer Foreclosures for January
With individuals not being able to pay their mortgages, lenders step in and foreclose on their homes. Statistics • 315,716 homes were in the foreclosure process last month • 1 in every 409 U.S homes sold last month, is facing foreclosure possibilities. • 31% increase in foreclosures from January 2009 • 12% less default notices […]
Pricey Home Sales Down For 2009
Properties that pass the one million dollar mark are seeing a decrease in sales. There has been a decline in sales for the past four years. About 18,621 homes over the million dollar mark were sold last year and 24,436 were sold in 2008. In 2005 a total of 54,773 homes priced over a million […]